Have you ever noticed one very annoying problem when checking your Hotmail from MSN Messenger, it only opens with Internet Explorer? Windows Live Messenger is closely integrated with IE since Microsoft has to promote their web browser so Windows Live Messenger will always open pages in IE instead of other web browsers. I am very sure that I have Mozilla Firefox set as my default browser.
What I don’t understand is, when someone send me a message with a link, I am able to open link with Firefox, but when I click the small email icon to open my Hotmail inbox, it uses Internet Explorer! It seems the Windows Live Messenger does not respect Windows default browser.
There seems to be a place where I can configure default programs for activities in Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Set Program Access and Defaults > Custom > and select Mozilla Firefox. Tried that but it did not work. Seems like the only way to open Hotmail when clicking the email icon at Windows Live Messenger is by installing plugins.
1. Download Messenger Plus! Live and install.
Important Note: When install, at the first screen, click Next. Take a careful look at the second screen because that’s where it will ask you whether to install sponsor program or not. Select “I refuse to give my support, don’t install the sponsor“.
2. Download StuffPlug and install.
3. Launch Windows Live Messenger and sign in.
4. Try clicking the email icon and see if your Hotmail inbox will be launched in Firefox. If not, then click StuffPlug 3 from menu and select Options. Go to General tab and make sure the option “Open all URLs in default browser” is checked.
Is it even necessary to install 2 types of Windows Live Messenger plugin for this feature? It depends… I guess it is only necessary for people who has problems launching Internet Explorer and they are used to opening Hotmail inbox from the email icon. For me, I can still live with opening Hotmail inbox with Internet Explorer although my default browser is Firefox.
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Espero ser especial y compartir con ustedes /No me digan que no digan sy estare esperando
my default browser is firefox; but it does not recognize my e-mail address. why?
I realize that this post is a few years old, but wanted to let you and your readers know that the latest version of Messenger Plus! Live, 4.84 no longer has the sponsor program. The software is still 100 percent free to download. There is an optional toolbar that you can get for free when you download the software, which has replaced the sponsor program. The toolbar lets you watch tv, listen to radio, connect directly to your social media accounts. Just make sure you download from the official page and you’ll have no problems with viruses or other annoyances.
I get a Fatal Error message from StuffPlug3 and my system Vista 64 bit refuses tio allow its instllation under Firefox or IE8 even. I still can’t access Windows Live, WL Messenger stuff or Hotmail from Firefox and IE8 is a piece of crap to work with dammit! Can anyone come to my aid PLEASE???? PM me if you prefer. My email is
keiman0@yahoo.com and sign me Desperate and at my rope’s end!- K&K in Brookhaven PA 19015-1903- USA
No version of Firefox will work and now all I get are bloody crashes! Nobody seems to give a damn about me at all! Aw maybe I’m supposed to starve to death!-K&K
it works !!!!! u r great, be blessed and have a beautiful day.
Worked great! Thanks :)
omg, thanks Tobson. This was driving me crazy. Works perfect. You saved my sanity!
hi, i installed stuffplug3 but when i click envelope icon its open via frontPage why it doesn’t work
i use messenger 8.5 and i have messenger plus
FUCKING WIN! Awesome man, thanks, I’ve been looking for a solution to this for ages! IE can go screw itself. :)
Thanks Tobson, was annoying me for a few days! Working great, even when you use the Classic start menu.
Firefox is my default browser, but I don’t bother cheking my hotmail with IE (for automatically signing in), as long as Firefox is kept as default for everything else…for this, Tobson’s tip worked like a charm! Thank you SO much, Tobson!
please help!!!
I tried as u said, installed msn 2009 and stuffplug but once I open msn, stuffplug says that is impossible to acces to WLM libraries!!!! so Stuffplug doesn´t work
how do I fix this???thanks!!!
This has allways worked for me (Windows XP SP3):
(Sorry if windows terms are not entirely correct, I’ve had to translate from Swedish since I use a Swedish Windows).
Right click the Taskbar and choose Properties. The interface “Properties for the Taskbar and Start Menu” should launch.
Go to the Start Menu-tab and choose to costumize it. The Costumize the Start Menu interface should launch.
In the below section of the General-tab you can set what program to show on the Start Menu for Internet and for E-mail.
I have discovered that the browser I choose here, and only here, is the one that Windows Live Messenger will use to launch e-mail to. Also if I first set Firefox and then grey it out by deselecting the box (like if I don’t want it on the Start Menu at all) WLM still will open e-mail in Firefox. If I then again click the box, change to Internet Explorer, then grey it out by deselecting (still not showing it on the Start Menu) WLM change to open e-mail in IE – so the setting here seem to be the one you are looking for.
Hope that helps :)
ya nolur ya birisi msn ninme gelsinde bunu yapabileyimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
You don’t even need MSN Plus! to use StuffPlug. Lol.
Thanks Raymond! This worked perfectly, and it takes me directly into my live mailbox without having to sign in. Make shure that in Firefox options all cookies are accepted and the ‘Remember passwords for sites’ option is checked. Firefox should have a popup asking if you want it to remember the password and fill it in automatically. Thats how mine is set up, if that helps at all.
The only thing so far that bugs me about Firefox(which I have since yesterday) is the WLM/Hotmail login-issue. But its veeery annoying..
Kinda silly no? Even a bit stupid imo. Stone-Age like. :)
I’m with Dan and Davey B TOO. I want to use IE7 because it automatically signs me into my inbox. Firefox does not do this
Installed StuffPlug only. Works great as it is, no further configuration required. Need not install Messenger Plus plug-in.
Thanks!
Thanks tonnes!
BTW all I did was install stuffplug3 and it fixed the problem automatically (I didn’t need messenger plus!).
i just got WLM 2009….and i actually want it to open up my inbox in IE, even tho firefox is my default, how do i make this happen?. and dan, i also have the login in issue – but im more concerned about having my inbox open in IE instead of my default browser
Works Great! Thanks!!
Im With you Dan.. What the hell, we must be 2 of about 2 million people with the same problem but i can find nothing on how to fix this…
I just want to use firefox.
firefox with stuffplug defaults was great. opened into my mail, no password needed.
But with WLM 2009 my firefox just sits there everytime wanting me to put in my password again regardless of the unchecked box in the WLM 2009.
It only does it for Internet Explorer and the author of Stuffplug is not going to waste time on bringing out a new version.
Up shit creek with out a paddle
grr
Thx allot mate, this is what I was looking for for a long time now, works like a charm!!!!!
The problem I’m having, is not that Windows Live Messenger WON’T open hotmail in firefox… but it won’t log in to my mailbox automatically…
It opens hotmail in firefox with no problem, without any of the modifications mentioned above.
However, it just goes to the login page, and makes me log in manually.
In IE7, it goes right into my mailbox automatically.
Any ideas on fixing this? I have firefox 3.0.6.
Save a textfile as blabla.html and right-click it to Open With.. Firefox and enable Always.
This did the trick
Now it opens my Notepad with the redirect.html text…
So for me it doesn\’t work !!
Anyone else have this problem?
thank you! works.
Firefox is set to my default browser, but I can’t chat with Windows Live Messenger.
I want IE to stay offline for some reasons
But How can I get Windows Live Messenger to go through Firefox to connect to the MSN?
i mean lol helpful lmao
thanks for this really really helpfully
brilliant.
Thnx alot. it works brilliantly!!
Gives second thoughts about microsoft though. It’s like if i want to enslave myself to a company i’ll just give into mac with its slick design n stuffs..
TU! :-)
Hi,
Sorry but i couldn’t find the StuffPlug 3 which u said be found on from menu ….
Thanks
Thanks for this. I have had PLUS forever, but was stumped on this one.
tnx for the help, that little “feature” of windows live is bloody annoying. also programs like msn plus and stuffplug might register as viruses with some anti virus programs because they might hook on to windows live in a similar way to some viruses.
comment peut faire pour pouvoir regarder mes message sens ke sa fasse une rapport d ereur svp?
REPONDAIR VITE MERCI
Ahhh thank you! Hated emails opening in IE when everything else was in FF. Woo! Finally fixed.
Cheers!
bueno ustees son estupidos
Hate IE… thanks a lot…works great!!!
wahahahahahha tq tq tq ~
ur a great help!
works well much appreciated.
thanks
hey guys ……help …..me ……plz anyone know the site witch i can get in my hotmail without open the msn messenger plzzzzzz……. hepl……MEEEEE……ty.
quick and easy was looking for that
謝謝
This worked flawlessly! Long live Mozilla! :)
Thanks, Raymond!
Christine in MN, USA
Cheers Raymond – My Internet Explorer has some kind of Adware in it – This fix has allowed me (my wife, actually) to use Firefox direct from Messenger to check emails – Cheers
thank you so much, a was nervous so with this thing, and now mozilla is my browser for my mails… thank you very much once again
awesome, opens emails in firefox, so simple when you know how…
Не согласен с тем что публиковать некорректированный текст после автоматического переводчика хорошо. Как минимум надо давать ссылку на оригинал на видном месте. Иначе – некрассиво.
Well if I may give you guys a tip, MSNPlus is a good way to fully crack open the backroot of your live messenger so it nearly becomes a pass through hatch for virusses and spy/malware. But on-topic now, indeed their is no way to deinstall IE7 from your Vista system, I discovered Pidgin a while ago, because I’m not really into all this smiley/widget crap by microsoft, so I’m using Pidgin as a solution for my IM. Works great as it supports a lot of different IM clients. Hope my help was usefull, Greetz
thanks a million mate. been looking for this fix for ages. star you are :)
Hey, thanks for the tut. MSN Plus doesn\’t seem to be required, however it\’s a great addition to WLM.
please help me i am in desperate need as i forgot my password and my alternate email also happens to be the same one!!its ramanarundhati@hotmail.com…i havent got a reply after 24 hrs i even saw junk mail. why pls help me
Thank you!
indeed very annoying that msn doesnt respect firefox
thank you!!
some of us use the features of MSN like video calling and scratchpad and file xfer that meebo and trillian do not support or support poorly (esp. if MSN is required for work). In this situation, this workaround ROCKS. Thank you Raymond! :D
ma, thank you so much dear, this is an on line email address,trikalini@emailmiser.com, the administrator of the page has already my default email address, you can answer me there, it is safe, i will answer you back..but for the moment..i downloaded Stuff plug 3 and it is working super..thanks a lot..as for the flash plugin for the mozilla i already have it..the thing was that it could not integrate with messenger, now everything is ok..thanks a lot..
thaaaaaaaaaanks, almost gave up on solving this annoying prob… now it opens up with firefox and not that heavy old IE, greeeaat. thanks!
thanks raymond. it worked so well i forgot i had a problem. cheers.
i have firefox set as mi default browser however, when i click on the mail icon in live messanger it uses internet explore to open my mail. i hate IE. help any one?
Evvaaaiii! Ce l\\\\\\\’ho fatta! Grazie Raymond ho seguito tutti i tuoi consigli ed ora sono + che soddisfatto! Grandeee biticoooo!! Claudio, Roma
IOANNA! I got already the Flash Player Installer (*.exe) for Mozilla Firefox, but I would need an e-mail address, would’t I? :)
If u prefer not to show the e-mail ad. that u use to use, then u can sign up for a temporary address… what do u think?
Ciao!
Mä.
IOANNA! If u want I can send u the FlashPlayer *.exe installer for Mozilla Firefox, but I would need an e-mail adress, wouldn\’t I? If u prefer not to write here the e-mail ad. u use to use, open another provissional account., ok? ;)
Ciao!!
Mä.
Oleeeee…
Tengo un super problema. Os cuen. La verdad es q h seguido todos los pasos correctamente para poder quitarme de en medio el InternetExplorer, pero por lo visto lo necesito para poder al menos abrir el Messenger…. El caso es q se m ha muerto el IE y al estar fuera por curro no puedo recurrir a nadie q m lo solucione, así q h intentado por activa o por pasiva q el Messenger se m abra a partir del Firefox. Incluso h cambiado los protocolos de toooodos los archivos de aplicaciones q utilizaban el IE… y nada, sigo sin poder abrir el Mess… No sabréis algún sistema para q pueda hacerlo y, así, pasar del dichoso IE de una vez x todas???
Gracias mil igual!! :)
Mä. x
the problem is not how to go to my hotmail inbox, there are a lot of other ways to do that. Me too, i have set mozilla as my default browser and i am really pleased with him , which is not happening with IE7 which came preinstalled into my laptop with vista, and has stopped responding for more than 5 months now…and now, a new problem came up: when i try to send or receive a wing from my windows live messenger, pops up an announcenment that says that if i want to receive or sent windows live messenger content i have to install the newer version of adobe flash player, and it urges me to click install . But when i click install a window of IE opens which immediately closes and windows are looking for a solution to the problem , which never comes, the explorer closes and it is impossible to update the flash player which relates to messenger. When i try to download again the adobe flash player indepentently , i find out , as i already know, that it is installed into my system..but it cannot relate to windows live messenger? How can i solve this problem? i would be obliged if i could get an answer..
DUUUH, i just realised, sorry
hi, what is stuffplug 3, and how do i click it?
What about safari(apple for vista), there seems to be a bug in this procedure. Somthing to do with liveid. It almost almost work for me.
pour ouvrir la boite des messages avec Firefox, il suffit d\’aller dans le panneau de configuration, ajouter ou supprimer des programmes, a gauche il ya , definir les progs par défaut, pour le navigateur web , choisi Firefox.
et cé terminé!
how do u download messenger helppppppppp
enable trilly through add/remove. works. thanks
My solution is to use Meebo rather than MSN Messenger. If we are talking about not using Microsoft’s browser, then why would you use Microsoft’s chat program?
Meebo is a great website (meebo.com) and you can chat on MSN’s network, AIM/AOL (includes Mac iChat users), ICQ, Yahoo, Gtalk and Jabber.
Very nice but how to do this manually without relying on third-party software?.
Thank a lot
Messenger Plus is flagged as spyware by a lot of antivirus software is because they have the ability to install “sponsor” which I included in the screenshot above. If you don’t install it, I assure you it’s fine.
Yet another invaluabe peice of advice, thankyou raymond, but as was mensioned by JuNyI, i am still reluctant to install messenger plus as a lot of antivirus software is saying it contains spyware and other malicios programs
I too use Trillian and it respects Firefox, which can then be GMonkey’d to remove the annoying big ads from Windows Live :D
userstyles.org/styles/3904
is it necessary to install msg plus live? seems like stuffplug itself can do the job.
Hi, i’m glad someone recognises this subtle yet severly annoying problem. Microsoft just doesn’t seem able to play along with the other kids.
It would’ve been nice to solve this problem without resorting to all the plugins.
I use Flock myself, but I have to keep Internet Explorer as my default browser. I had once made Flock my default browser and my ZoneAlarm firewall didn’t update! Flock is based on Firefox, so that applies to Firefox as well. As well we may like other browsers, many applications still support ONLY IE.
:(
Works like a charm. Thank you Raymond!
Alex
black2, this plugin will use your default browser; so if Opera is default, it will open using it… ;)
thanks, been looking for this.
“Open Hotmail with Firefox from Windows Live Messenger” and how about open hotmail with opera?
Is there anyway it can?
erm Raymond that software have spyware mcafee siteadvisor marked red site any other way ????
pls Reply
An easier way is to use Trillian it opens with Firefox